Should you visit Baltimore or Atlantic City?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and Atlantic City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Baltimore
Baltimore is a large, industrial city and popular tourist destination in the state of Maryland. It is about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. and is a hub of tourism and entertainment for the area. It has a vibrant nightlife, comfortable climate, and is a great place to visit when you're in the area. The city proper has a population of about 600,000 and the metropolitan area has 2.7 million. Its economy is centered around science, technology, engineering and math and it has many undergraduate and graduate schools including the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, on the southeastern coast of New Jersey, is a popular destination for gambling, partying, and generally having fun. The beach is lined with casinos, many with famous names, and there's a boardwalk that offers a diverse experience. Most people don't head to Atlantic City for the beaches - it's the casinos and partying that draws a crowd. This is a popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, or anybody looking for an affordable place to gamble.
Which city is cheaper, Atlantic City or Baltimore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Baltimore is $143, while the average daily cost in Atlantic City is $99. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Baltimore and Atlantic City in more detail.
Accommodation
Baltimore's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $150. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $75.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $100 for a double occupancy room in Atlantic City.
Food
The average traveler spends about $37 per day in Baltimore for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about $29 per day in Atlantic City for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Baltimore $37
Atlantic City $29
Typical Food prices in Baltimore
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Baltimore:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Baltimore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Baltimore.
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Federal Hill Food Tour:
$71
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Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour:
$71
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Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore:
$73
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Spirit of Baltimore Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$100
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Baltimore Helicopter Sightseeing Tour Plus Dinner:
$288
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Platinum Package - Helicopter Tour with Dinner at Ruth's Chris or Capital Grille:
$315
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Baltimore Helicopter Tour plus Lunch or Dinner Cruise:
$321
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Baltimore is $15 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The cost of a taxi ride in Atlantic City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $25 per person, per day, on local transportation in Atlantic City.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Baltimore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baltimore:
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Arrival Private Transfer Washington Airport BWI to Washington DC by SUV:
$129
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Baltimore City to New York City - Private Car Transfer:
$454
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Baltimore City to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$448
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Baltimore City to Newark International Airport (EWR)- Departure Private Transfer:
$411
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Baltimore City to Philadelphia City - Private Car Transfer:
$311
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Baltimore City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer:
$168
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Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer:
$109
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Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$219
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Baltimore Washington International Airport Transfer to Downtown Baltimore:
$120
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Baltimore to New York J.F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) - Departure Private Transfer:
$448
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Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
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Departure Private Transfer Baltimore to Baltimore Airport BWI - Business Vehicle:
$74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlantic City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Atlantic City:
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Private Transfer: Atlantic City to JFK or Laguardia Airports:
$665
Entertainment
Baltimore's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Entertainment and activities in Atlantic City typically cost an average of $31 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Baltimore
Here are a few actual costs in Baltimore for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Baltimore Monuments Walking Tour:
$12
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2 Hour Chesapeake Signature Cruise:
$15
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Baltimore Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Baltimore Inner Harbor Sightseeing Tour:
$23
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History & Culture Small-Group Tour with a Local:
$41
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History of Chesapeake Bay Sailing Tour:
$49
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Baltimore Inner Harbor Sailing Experience:
$49
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West Bank Tour:
$60
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Inner Harbor Small-Group Culture Tour with a Local:
$69
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Small-Group Food and Drink Tour with Local Snacks:
$73
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Private Baltimore Historical Sightseeing Tours:
$75
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Wine Beer and Spirit Tour in Frederick:
$97
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Baltimore may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Atlantic City may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $32 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Baltimore
Also in Baltimore, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Sip of Baltimore Brewery Tour:
$90
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Westminster Region Wine Tour:
$97
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Chesapeake Region Wine Tour:
$97
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Heritage Region Wine Tour:
$97
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Chocolate and Wine Tour:
$106
Sample the Local Flavors in Atlantic City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Atlantic City:
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All Bets Are Off: Atlantic City Bar Crawl:
$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Baltimore and Atlantic City, we can see that Baltimore is more expensive. And not only is Atlantic City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Atlantic City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Atlantic City and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Baltimore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Baltimore than you might in Atlantic City.
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